I'm discouraged

[SuesquatchRN]

I feel semi-competent and clueless a lot of the time. This promotion to unit manager had me thrown into the deep end over Thanksgiving, no training, and I have finally picked everything up but we worked VERY short for a few weeks there and paperwork got ignored.

The nurses on my unit are a generally great bunch, but they are, as are many, passive-aggressive and if I say, "I feel good today. I think I'm getting a handle on it" I will her, "Yeah, you should be busier. Makes me wonder if you're missing something."

I no longer nurse. I argue with obstinate people about changing treatments that aren't working and document to we don't get dinged or sued.

Pooh.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks, withasmile. Good advice.

[CASTLEGATES]

of all people, you can handle even the pooh! ) stick with it; you're there for a reason. Possibly self governance if you need extra time (they do their own schedules, hire and fire)...works great if it's set up and everyone gets what they want!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

can she be sent to a wound care "class" maybe even CEU's...?

[ellakate]

Schedule your days with hours blocked out for paperwork. Since you were thrown in for the ever popular nursing Trial by Fire, go back to orientation questions.

One time I accepted a promotion without understanding the basic requirements. My supervisor was not good at orienting and I floundered about until I became frustrated and resigned. It was miserable for all concerned.

Make sure you know what reports are required and the appropriate deadlines. Do you have to schedule and conduct meetings? Is there a problem stack -- lab, imaging, personnel, etc.?

I think that you are going to be a great manager. Don't let the buzzards get you down!

Please develop the habit of a daily schedule with time set aside for paper shuffling. This is the primary difference between staff/charge nursing and management, in terms of a work day. Try to stay on top of the paper flow.

Remember to breathe. Let us know how it goes!

Denise

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

morte, no. But actually, I am going back to either Duoderm or Optifoam. The Primapore's only advantage is that the aides are coming to us when the wound gets dirty. If I can impress upon them to do the same with the Duoderms I think that will work better.

Thanks, Denise. I'm starting to get it - it's just frustrating. So much of the paper has to do with butt-covering and nothing to do with nursing. And then there's the ever-popular "how to write a care plan that State can't ding you with."

Of course, someone called off today so I had a cart. It was actually good to be straight-on task-oriented for a day.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I know what your issue is, you care about your patients and you are too self critical. Don't give up, but give yourself credit for the excellent nursing care you deliver.

Also learn how to play the politics of the unit, this is the part of nursing I hate but it will make your life easier.

[ellakate]

MedSurg32RN is on target with

Learn how to play the politics of the unit. . . . . . it will make your life easier. Critical skills: smile, nod, shrug.

Sue, since you are also an informatics nurse, put those dam* care plans in a Word doc and cut and paste. If there is not an online form, ask for one or make your own. When I left my last job, I had developed a 14 page list of 'friendly phrases' to help me remember goals, outcomes, etc.

Enjoy your day today! Think about this -- you are a good nurse and a nice person and, darn it, people like you!

D:)

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks, everyone. :)

Well, I feel really good about everything today.

The care plans are, thank goodness, computerized. I really like the system we use.

Centex, my spreadsheet building began today. Weekly wound rounding. Nightmare. I built a spreadsheet with EVERYTHING I need and gave copies to the floor nurses so they would know what treatments I would be doing. Walked around with my wound brain and, while all of the ridiculous documentation isn't done, my nursing notes are in the system and I can do the silly paper over the weekend.

It's coming together.

Youse guys help.

:)